Manifolding device



Jim 16, 1940- c. w. BRENN MANIFOLDING DEVICE Filed May 6, 1938 INVENTORCar( WB?" ATTORN Jan. 16, 1940. c, w, BRENN MANIFOLDING DEVICE Filed May6, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 |NvENToR ATTO E Filed May 6. 1938 4Sheets--SheeI 3 INVENTOR Jan. 16, 1940. c. w. BRENN MANIFOLDING DEVICE 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 6, 1938y r l' R l WW E, N la C en n,

Patented Jan. 16P 1940 Carl W. Brenn, Montclair, N. J., assigner toAutographic Register Company, Hoboken, N. J., a corporation of NewJersey Application May 6, i938, Serial No. 206,361

19 Claims.

This invention relates to manifolding devices, and, more particularly,to a package comprising a vsupply of continuous-form stationery, 'and acontainer for the including a writing 'surface on which the forms areplaced and interleaved with trans-fer material; In my patent, No.l,999,1535, granted April 30, 1935, I have disclosed such a package ofinaniiolding stationery, and the present invent-ion rela-tes toimprovements Von this package.

Que o the features of this invention is the .provision of a completelyenclosed package, with provision for the easy and definite removal or" aportion `of the package, which -will thereafter expose tc writingyop(nationsa `set of roan-iiolding forms interleaved with `transf rmaterial..

Another feature of this invention is Vthe provision of means whereby theunder or duplicate copies may not be ymarked during shipment of thepackage.

Another feature of this invention is an iniprcvecl form of outsidecontainer which maybe assembled and stored in knockdown forni, and whichmay be readily folded into shape to receive an inner part thereof, andWhich may be conveniently strengthened by corner pieces.

Still another feature of the invention is the pro-vision lof an improvedthin sheet metal plate serving as platen on which the writing'operations are performed, and having at yone end in proved means formounting and supporting the transfer material. which is in sheet form,between the plies of 'the printed stationery, which is preferably yofthe fanfold type.

Other features yand 'advantages will hereinafter appear.`

In 'the drawings:

Figure lv is a plan view, partly in section, of the package.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the package shown in Fig. l.

3 is a diagrammatical View showing the relation of the forms andtransfer strips on the platen.

sheet anchoring means.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the inner casing.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the blank forming the inner casing.

Fig. "7 is a perspective view of the iront section of the outer casi g,showing the overlapped front wall.

Fig. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the writing platen.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View of the carbonv Fig` 9 shows thecompleted package ready for shipment.

Fig. l0 shows the blank -ior forming the outer part of the casing.

Fig. ll shows a perspective of the package, with the removable sectionpartly removed.

Fig. l2 is a perspective View of package, showing the protecting stripsin place.

13 is a diagramma/tical view of the mani folding material on the platen,with the proteot- 1 The manifolding `'package of the present in ventionincludes a casing having stored therein a plie of continuous writingstrips, `and provided with a Ymetal writingr plate over which the stripsare passed `and upon which the writing operation takes place. be usedwithout removing the pile from the package--the container forming a`portab-le register.

vcasing is' made ci a paper like material so that after the supply ofcontinuous strips has been exhausted., it can be discarded. In thepreferred form of the invention, the casing is sealed so that the supplyof forms therein cannot be renewed without rendering the casing uselessas a register.

As shown in the drawings, the casing is made in two parts, one disposedwithin the other. The inner part or casing 2Q carries the supply ofstationery material and is formed from a single blank of corrugatedboard, as shown in `Fig. 6. The blank is cut along the solid lines and`is folded along the dotted lines. The corners 2! of the blank are foldedso as to extend perpendicularly to the plane of vthe paper, and the endwalls 22 and 2.3 are then vfolded along their bottom line, thusdisposing the corners along the sides' of the casing. The side walls Mare then folded up and secured to the corners, thus forming a box havinga bottom and end walls of singleeply thickness and side walls ofdouble-ply thickness for substantially' the major portion of theirlength. The side walls will be strengthened against compression underwriting pressure, because, in folding up the side walls and corners, theoorrugations in the two plies will be at right angles to one another.

This package is intended. to,

The end wall 22 is provided with an opening 25, for a purpose to belater explained.

'Ihe stationery carried by the casing can be of different form lengths.In order that the single size of inner casing can properly hold theforms of various lengths against shifting in the casing during shipment,a partition or transverse wall 26 is provided to extend across the innermember and form a supply compartment which will snugly lit the desiredform. The partition can be disposed in the casing in proper position toform a compartment which will accommodate forms of the desired lengths.It is locked in place by having portions 26a which extend along the sidewalls and are secured thereto. The locating of the partition is donebefore the plies of the side walls are secured together so that staples21, when driven through the two plies of the side wall, will also piercethe portions 26a of the transverse Wall and lock them all together.

As is shown in Fig. 2, a pile 30 of zigzag folded stationery is disposedin the supply compartment so as to substantially fill the saine. Thestationery is in the form of a continuous strip 3| having forms 32printed thereon in succession. The forms are separated by tear lines 33,preferably lin-es of perforation, and are each provided with holes 34 tobe used to locate the sheet in writing position. The stationeryillustrated is of the fanfold type in .which alternate side margins ofthe superposed strips are connected, see Fig. 3. If desired, however,piles of separate, superposed continuous strips can be used.

Inasmueh as the manifolding stationery is to be used without removingthe pile from the casing, a writing plate or platen 3S is disposed overthe inner casing to receive the continuous strips from the pile andsupport them for a writing or manifolding operation. The writing platenis secured to the inner member so as to be supported by the side wallsand to be held thereon.

The writing plate is held against lateral movement on the inner casingby depending flanges or ears 31 which are formed on the sides thereofadjacent one end and received in pockets 38 formed between the twosecured-together plies of the side wall and held against longitudinalmovement by a ange 39 engaging the outer surface of the end wall of thecasing.

When the platen rests on the tops of the side walls of the inner casing,pressure applied thereon during writing operations will tend to causethe walls to move laterally and spread or collapse. With the dependentears disposed between the plies of the side walls, however, the wallsare securely braced and held against lateral movement either inwardly oroutwardly of the casing.

As shown in Figs. l. and 2 the writing plate has a free end 4d having acurl 4ta thereon which extends partially over the supply compartment andinto receiving relation with the strips therein. The free end of theplaten is supported by having its edges resting on the edges of theinner casing and the portions 26a of the partition which provide anadequate supporting surface.

The platen is further supported intermediate its-ends, Where the writingpressure is applied, by the partition 2`which is extended intoengagement with the undersurface of the platen, as

shown in Fig. 2. The partition 2li, in the preferred form of theinvention, is made from corrugated board and is positioned in the casingwith the corrugations extending perpendicular to the plane of theplaten, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, so that a maximum supporting strengthis obtained.

In order that the Written impressions will be made on all of the recordforms disposed on the platen, a plurality of sheets of carbon paper ortransfer material 4| are carried by the platen to overlie the same andbe interleaved with the record strips to form a manifolding pile asshown in Fig. 3.

The carbon sheets have a clip or strip of thin metal 42 clamped to theedge of the sheet first engaged by the record strips. The metal clip isextended beyond the sides of the carbon sheets as shownat 42a, one sideif fanfold material is used, or both sides if separate superposed stripsare used, and is utilized to secure the sheets on the writing plate.

The carbon sheets must be anchored to the platen so that they will notmove longitudinally with the record strips when the latter are fed overthe platen and also against becoming loose and free when the package isplaced in various positions during shipment and during the time when itis carried fromplace to place in use.

The novel anchoring means of the present invention, for locking thecarbon sheets in place on the platen, comprises a pin 45 disposed oneach margin of the plate beyond the edges of the writing strips andadjacent the free end thereof and a bendable metal tongue 46 preferablyhaving a portion 46a secured to the undersurface of the writing plate soas not to interfere with the passage of the paper over the plate, withthe end thereof extending through' an opening in the plate injuxtaposition with each pin. The extension 42a of the clip 42 secured tothe carbon sheets is provided with a hole 41 for engaging the pin andwith a. rectangular aperture 48 exactly receiving the bendf able tongue.The pin 45 has an extension 45a projecting from the undersurface of theplaten. The extension is pointed, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so that itwill readily penetrate into the material of the side walls as shown inFig. 15 upon which the platen rests and aids in holding the platen inposition on, the inner member.

As is shown in Fig. 1, the -pin and tongue are placed on a diagonal withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the casing, and also to thelongitudinal axis of the clip which is perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of the casing. This will effectively hold the clip and carbon sheetagainst longitudinal movement with the record strips.

After the clip has been positioned with the pin and tongue in theopenings therein, the tongue is bent into overlapped relation with theclip, as shown in Fig. 4, and the latter is effectively locked againstseparation from the platen in all positions of the casing. The tongue,however, is bent so that it will not clamp the carbon sheet tightly tothe platen but will permit it to rest freely on the writing strip.

'I'he strips are properly located on the platen by a pair ofintercepting pins 50 which are positioned at the forward end of theplaten to engage the holes 34 in the strips and stop the feeding of thestrips when they reach the proper Writing position on the platen. Thepins can be released when it is desired to withdraw' the written form.

'I'he pins are carried by a spring plate 55 secured to the undersurfaceof the platen, as shown in Fig. 2, which plate normally urges the pinsthrough apertures in the plate and into a posi- Cil . little .storagespace.

tion 4wherein they will engage the `holes 34 in the paper. The plate isextended, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and f8, to provide 'a release lever 56to be engaged to move the plate 55 and the pins against thel `action ofthe spring into .release position. The partition `is -so disposed in thecasing that `the release lever will always be free to be moved intorelease position.

The releasing lever vis disposed behind the front 4depending flange A39of the platen which .is provided with an aperture 51 in alignment Withopening in the end Wall of the casing.

As shown in Fig. f8, the pins can be released `by inserting a fingerthrough the opening in the 4end of the casing and pressing the lever '56down- Wardly. j `If desired, the pins can be automatically released bythe fingersy when they are moved into the opening and Ain grippingrelation with the ends of the strips so as `to` withdraw the Written setof forms and place a fresh set Vof formson the platen. f

'A` hold-down bar 5| is mounted on the platen to overlie the strips andis provided with holes 52 'to receive the pins 50. With the pins 'eX-tending through the holes 34 and into the holes in the bar, the stripsare held against accidental `displacement from the intercepting pinsduring shipping and handling of the casing.

The package is shipped with a set of forms in manifolding position ontheplaten. In order to prevent pressure on the sheets, occurring duringshipment, from causing the transfer sheets to mar the under or duplicatecopies, means have been provided for protecting them. While this may beof any type, the herein preferred form comprises placing dummy orprotecting sheets 15 and 1G, as shown in Fig. 13, so that they liebetween the transfer sheet and the record sheet, and any markstransferred from the transfer sheet by pressure upon the top of thepackage Will be `received by the dummy sheets. The protecting sheets areprovided with holes through which the pins extend and are thus locked inplace. The sheets are provided with finger tabs 11 which extend into thefinger-grip opening, as shown in Fig. 12, and can be readily gripped andslipped from their position within the manifolding pack when the pinsare released and it is desired to use the pile for manifoldingpurposes.

Theprotecting sheets 15 and 16 vare secured together by a staple 18, asshown in Fig. 1'2, so thatthey will be removed from the pile uponpulling tabs 11.

The package is completed by providing an outer casing 59 whichcompletely encloses and protects the inner casing 20. carrying theWriting plate orplaten 36 and the supply of manifolding stationery, asshown in Figs. l, 2, 9 and 1l.

The outer casing is made of cardboard or chip--` board and is folded upfrom the flat blank. It canbe readily stored in at condition until thepackages. are made up,'and will vtake up very The blank, which is `shownin Fig. 10, forms top, bottom, end vand side walls, by being cut alongthe heavy lines and folded `along' the dotted lines.

In folding up the outer casing from the blank, a pair of sections 60 arefolded about the dotted lines so as to be perpendicular to a pair ofside walls 6I. 'Ihe side walls 6| are then `folded perpendicular to abottom G1, and an end wall 62 is then folded along the bottom fold lineto be f perpendicular to the bottom and the sections 60 secured to theinner surface thereof. side walls 63, secured to a top sect-ion G8, are

then folded along the .fold lines and are inserted so that they engagethe inner surface .ofthe Aside Awalls 6I and are secured thereto.

This construction provides a rigid housing having single-ply top andbottom walls and 'the side walls with the intervening end wall fofdouble thickness.

The top Wall 68 and end Wall 62, asshown in Figs. 9 and 10, have a pairof connected portions -69 and 1|] which are weakened by being .cut asindicated by the heavy lines and held `in Lplace by frangible portions12 at spaced intervals.

The sections 6D have the corners thereof cut as at 1|, so that when theyare in folded relation they will not overlap the portion 10, which is tobe removed from the end Wall 62. This `is clearly shown in Fig. '1.

After the Walls of the outer casing have been l secured together, theinner casing is prepared by interleaving the carbon sheets andprotecting sheets with the first set of forms on the continnous recordstrips and disposing `them over the platen in proper manifoldingrelation. The inner ysection is then slipped into `the outer casingthrough. the open end thereof with the end hav-- ing the platen mountedthereon being inserted first.

The casing is closed by folding a pair of flaps G4 along the fold linesand an end 65 foldedalong its fold lline disposing the flaps between theside walls Si and 63. An end fiap is inserted under the top Wall and allare sealed in place. The package is now ready for shipment.

With the inner casing completely enclosedr on all sides and top andbottom by the outer casing, the platen and manifolding material will be'fully protected.

When it is desired to use the casing, the tab 1:0, which is disposedover the opening 25 inthe end of the inner member, is released `bybreaking the frangible connections 12. This can vbe readily done bypushing against the `unsupported tab. The tab is pulled forward, asindicated by the arrows in Fig. 1l,l thus breaking theremainingconnections 12 and releasing the section t9 for" removal from the topWall. This forms a Writing opening in the top disposed over the platenand exposing the forms for manifolding purposes.

When the tab 1li is removed from the end wall B2, a finger-grip openingis formed (see Figs. 2

and 1.4) in alignment with the opening 25 and 51 in the end Wall oftheinner casing and flange in the platen whereby the ends of the stripscan be readily gripped and withdrawn.

As will be noted in Figs. 9 and 1l, the side edges l of the openingextend over.` the Writing strips for a major portion of their length andare ycurved outwardly toward the edges of the casing at the end thereofto release Ithe strip from control of the top section, .so that it canbe readily severed from the continuous strip.

If desired. the casing can be provided with strengthening ribs. such asbox fasteners' 13 secured along the side corners, as shown in Figs. 9and il., to reinforce the top against accidental removal from thecasing.

In some instances, it may be desirable to pro-- vide a means for guidingthe strips as they emerge from the storage compartment. While Iguides ofvarious types may be used. a roller y8!) has been illustrated in theform of the invention shown in Figs. 15 and 16, over which the stripspass in their movement toward the platen. The roller is disposedadjacent the end of the platen and extends transversely of the storagecompartment.

ment in any desired manner, in the-preferred form of the invention it isprovid-ed with` a pair of conical 'trunnions 8|, one at each end, whichare adapted to be forced into thematerial of the side walls asillustrated in Fig. 16 to rotatably support the roller in the casing asthe strips are fed from the storage compartment to the platen.

Variations and modiiications may be made within the scope of thisinvention and portions of the improvementsmay be used without others'.

I claim:

1. A manifolding device comprising a casing including inner and outerparts having their walls mainly of fibrous material; and a rigid writingplate interposed between the two parts and disposed below the top wallof the outer part, the outer part completely enclosing thev inner partand having a portion of the top wail disposed above the writing plateremovable to form a vwriting opening therein.

2. A manifolding device comprising a casing including inner and outerparts having their walls mainly of. fibrous materia-l; and a rigidwriting including inner and outer parts having walls mainly of brousmaterial; a rigid writing plate interposed between the two parts anddisposed below the top wall of the outer part, the outer part completelyenclosing the inner part and having a portion of the top wall disposedabove the writing plate removable to form a writing opening; and bracingribs running along the side v corners of the outer section and overlyingthe top for substantially the width of the margin of the writingopening.

4. A maniiolding device comprising a casing including' inner and outerparts having their walls mainly of fibrous material; and a .rigidwriting plate` interposed between the two parts anddisposed below thetop wall of the outer part,the outer part being folded up from a singlenat blank so as to enclose all sides of the inner part and having thatpart disposed over the writing plate removable to form a writingopening.

5. A manifolding device comprising a casing including inner and outerparts having their walls mainly of fibrous material; and a rigid writingplate interposed between the two parts and disposed below the top wallof the outer part, the

`outer part being folded up from a single flat blank so as to form top,bottom, side and end walls with the side walls and an end wall oftwo-ply thickness with the top wall having a portion thereof weakenedfor ready removal to form a writing opening therein.

6. A manifolding device comprising a casing including inner and outerparts having their walls mainly of brous material; and a rigid writingplate interposed between the two parts and disposed below the top wallof the outer part, the outer part having a portion of the top wall abovethe plate weakened so as to bc readily removable to form a writingopening.

7. A manifolding assemblage comprising a casing including inner andouter parts having their lannees the plate whereby the carbon sheets canbe interleaved with piles of record sheets of the fanfold type, saidmeans including a tongue bendable over the anchored end portion of eachholding bar to lock the same to the plate.

8. In a manifolding assemblage, a writing platen over which writingstrips are carried; a plurality of carbon sheets disposed on the platento be interleaved with the writing strips and having a clip attached toone end to extend beyond at least one lateral edge thereof; and meansfor locking the clip to the platen comprising a pin and a bendabletongue in spaced relation on the platen, the clip being provided withopenings in the extension thereof for receiving thepin and tongue afterwhich the tongue is bent to overlap the clip and lock the carbon sheetto the platen. n

9. A manifolding assemblage comprising a casing containing continuousstrips; a writing platen; a plurality of carbon sheets disposed on theplaten to be interleaved with the writing stripsand having a clipattached to one end to extend beyond at least one lateral edge thereof;and means for locking the clip to the platen comprising a pin and abendable tongue in spaced relation-on the platen, the clip beingprovided with an opening to receive the pin and a rectangular opening toreceive the bendable tongue, the openings being in diagonal relation tothe longitudinal axis of the clip whereby the clip and attached carbonsheet are locked against movement and removal thereof when the tongue isextended through the opening and bent to overlap the clip.

l0. A manifolding device comprising a casing including inner and outerparts having their walls mainly of fibrous material, the side walls ofthe inner part being formed of a plurality of plies secured together; ametal writing plate interposed between the two parts to ext-end beneaththe `top wall of the outer part which is provided with a writingopening; and means extending between `the plies of the side walls of theinner ,member for holding the plate in place.

ll. A manifolding device comprising a casing including inner and outerparts having their walls mainly of fibrous material, the side walls ofthe inner part being formed of a plurality of plies secured together;and a metal writing plate interposed between the two parts to extendbeneath the top wall of the outer part which is provided with a writingopening, the plate resting on the side walls oi the inner part andhaving dependent flanges disposed between the plies of the side walls tobrace the side 'walls against lateral movement.

l2. A manifolding device comprising a casing including inner and outerparts having their walls mainly of brous material; a metal writing plateinterposed between the two parts to extend beneath the top wall oftheouter part which is provided with a writing opening; and means extendingtransversely of the inner part kand engaging the under-surface oftheplate to support it intermediate the ends thereof.

i3. A manifolding device comprising a casing including inner and outerparts having their walls mainly of nbrous material; a metal writingplate interposed between the two parts to extend beneath the top wall ofthe outer part which is provided with a writing opening; and a partitionof `fibrous material secured in the inner part and forming a storagecompartment therein to carry the manifolding material, the partitionengaging the undersurface of the plate intermediate its ends whereby itis supported against writing pressure.

14. In a manifolding assemblage, an inner casing having side and endwalls and a transverse Wall intermediate the ends thereof to .form asup-- ply compartment; a pile of zigzag folded continuous stripsdisposed in the supply compart ment; a writing platen secured to rest onthe top edges of the walls of the inner casing and over which thecontinuous strips are fed; and an outer casing having top, bottom, sideand end walls sur-- rounding the sides of the inner casing, a portion ofthe top and adjacent end wall of the outer casing being removable toform a writing opening over the platen and to aiord access to the endsof the strips so that they can be grasped and advanced to bring freshportions of the strips to writing position.

15. As an article of manufacture, a manifolding assemblage comprising acasing including an inner part and an outer part, the inner part having`a transverse partition to form a supply compartment; a pile of zigzagfolded continuous strips carried by and substantially filling the supplycompartment; a platen over which the strips are led resting on the topof the side walls of the inner part and having depending portionsbracingly engaging the side walls of the inner part to hold them againstlateral movement, a plurality of carbon sheets disposed over the platenin interleaved relation with the continuous strips; and means includinga bendable element for locking the carbon sheets to the platen, theouter part of the casing enclosing all sides of the inner i part toprotect the inner part, platen and mani- `folding material during'shipment and having a portion of the top'wall thereof held in place by afrangible connection whereby it can be readily removed to iorrn awriting opening.

16. As an article of manufacture, a manifolding assemblage comprising acasing including an inner and outer part, the inner part having atransverse partition having portions extending along and secured to theside walls thereof and forming a compartment adapted to receive a pileof zigzag folded continuous strips; and a platen, over which the stripsare fed, having one end engaging the end wall of the inner part to beheld in place thereby and extending so as to partially cover thecompartment, the sides adjacent the free end of the platen resting onthe portions of the transverse partition secured to the side Walls withthe transverse partition engaging and supporting the platen intermediateits ends to thereby receive the writing pressure when the strips on theplaten are used, the platen being adapted to support the carbon sheetsin interleaved relation with the continuous strips, the outer part ofthe casing enclosing all sides of the inner part and having a writingopening in the top Wall thereof.

17. In a manifolding assemblage, an inner casing forming a container fora pile of zigzag folded continuous writing strips; an end wall of theinner casing having an opening formed therein; a platen for supportingthe writing strips in manifolding relation mounted on the top of theside walls of the inner casing and having a dependent ange provided withaperture extending over the opening in the end wall of the casing withthe aperture in alignment with the opening; intercepting pins carried bythe platen and normally urged to engage holes in the writing strips toproperly position them on the platen; means disposed beneath the platenand operable through the opening in the front of the casing for movingthe pins to release position; and an outer casing enclosing the innercasing and having a portion of the top Wall and adjacent end wallreadily removable to form a writing opening over the platen and anopening in the end wall in alignment with the aperture in the flange ofthe platen and the opening in the end wall of the inner casing.

18. A manifolding device comprising a casing, including inner and outerparts having their walls mainly of brous material; a rigid writing plateinterposing the two parts and below the top Wall of the outer part, theWriting plate supporting the printed forms carried by the inner part inmanifolding relation with transfer material, the outer part completelyenclosing the inner part, plate and manifolding material to protect themduring shipment and having a part removable to form a writing openingwhen in use; and means interposed in the pile for protecting the undercopies from being marked during shipment of the package.

19. In a manifolding assemblage, an inner casing, adapted to carry apile of zigzag folded continuous strips; a writing platen carried by theinner casing and adapted to support transfer material interleaved withthe strips in writing position; an outer casing completely enclosing theinner casing, writing platen and manifolding material during shipmentand having a portion of the top and end wall removable to form a Writingopening and a nger-grip opening; and a plurality of protecting sheetsdisposed between the transfer material and the under record sheetsduring shipment to protect the latter against being marred, theprotecting sheets being provided with projecting portions which extendinto the iinger-grip opening whereby they can be readily so removed fromthe pile.

CARL W. BRENN.

